Vapor and liquid separator



April 20, 1954 BUZARD ETAL 2,675,888

VAPOR AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Filed 001. 9, 1951 4 Shets-Sheet 1 April 0, 1954 J. BLlZARD ET AL 2,575,888

VAPOR AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 B): WWZH meg April 20, 1954 J. BLIZARD ET AL VAPOR AND LIQUID SEPARATOR 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed 001;. 9, 1951 norneg April 20, 1954 J. BLIZARD ET AL VAPOR AND LIQUID SEPARATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STAT TENT OFFICE VAPOR AND LIQUID SEPARATOR of New York Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,476

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the separation of fluids from mixtures thereof, and more particularly to the separation of vapor and liquid from mixtures of the same.

The invention will be disclosed as applied to the separation of steam and water in a drum of a water tube boiler, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular application but may be utilized generally in the separation of vapors and liquids from mixtures thereof.

In water tube boilers, mixtures of steam and water rise in the heated steam-generatin tubes and discharge into drums wherein the steam separates from the water. The steam passes from the boiler through openings in the upper portion of the drum, while the water remaining in the drum recirculates through downcomers and the steam-generatin tubes, in which latter tubes 2. portion of the water is evaporated and the separating process is repeated. In most boilers, particularly those which are operatedat high specific rates of evaporation; the separation of water and steam is not complete and a portion of the water is carried off with the steam from the drum and a portion of the steam is carried back with the water to the boiler tubes. This incompleteness of separation is undesirable from the standpoint of superheating equipment and the steam-consuming equipment.

The present invention overcomes this disadvantage and provides separating apparatus in which steam and water or other vapors and fluids admixture will be more completely separated in the steam drum or other enclosure,

The invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which:

Fig. l is a more or less diagrammatic View in transverse section of a steam andwater drum of a steam generator having separating apparatus embodying the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal'sectional View on a reduced. scale aken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

3 is a fragmentary plan view on a reduced scale taken on line 3-'3 of Fig. l;

Fig. i is a plan view, partly broken, of the separator embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.; and

Fi 6 s a e r View of the sep r or embo ing the invention. 1

Like characters of. r ference refer to the same or l r parts'thrcushout the iews.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, reference numeral H! designates a steam and water drum of a steam generator having a ban; of steam-generating tubes H and downcomer tubes l2 connected at their upper ends to the lower portion of the steam and water drum. The drum, as shown, has two horizontal feed water pipes 53 and M extending longitudinally of the drum and disposed centrally within the drum in spaced relationship from a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis thereof.

A steam and Water inlet passage is provided in the lower portion of the drum and, as shown, is formed by a curved sheet 5 5 comprisinga number of segments [6 joined together by clamps ill and running longitudinally of the drum a distance short of ends l8 and I9 thereof and in spaced relationship with the inner periphery 20 of the drum, thereby forming a curved steam inlet passage 2!.

Curved sheet I5 is supported by end plates 22 and 23which serve to close passage 2! in a fluid-tight manner at the opposite ends thereof. The end plates, which are coextensive with sheet 15', are of inverted L-shape, the horizontally eX- tending legs thereof being secured to the undersideof sheet 5 5 in a fluid-tight manner while the vertically extending legs are fastened in a fluidtight manner, e. g., by welding, to the inner periphery of the drum. Steam and water passage BI is closed along the top thereof at opposite sides of the drum by top plates 24 which extend from the inner peripheral surface of the drum -to plate 15 and have a downwardly projecting leg 25 secured to plate in a fluid-tight manher. The plates 24 extend longitudinally of the drum a distance coextensive with sheet 55, each of said top plates having a plurality of rectangular slots 2Q" therein arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship. A rectangular-shaped flanged inlet sleeve 25 is secured to each of the top plates 2 by welding or similar means in such manner that each of the slots in the plates coincide with the passage in a sleeve. 7

It will be noted that steam generating tubes H discharge into steam and water inlet passage 2|! and that the discharged steam and Water is confined to said passage flowing upwardly there which are spac d from one another lonsitudi pally o he drum in. the. steamsnace thereof is mounted on the top plates at opposite sides of said drum. The separators are spaced adjacent each other in rows running longitudinally of the drum and in spaced relationship with the inner periphery of the drum.

The steam and water separators are designated in the drawings the reference numeral 26 and, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 to 6, each comprises a container which is substantially an involute curve in cross section, the container having a peripheral plate 28 and opposite end members 2e and J9 spaced from one another axially of the container, the peripheral plate and end members forming between them a separation chamber 3i having a horizontal axis. A tangential steam and water inlet 22 is formed at one side of the separation chamber 3| by downwardly extending portion 33 of plate 28 and downwardly extending portions 34 and 35 ,of end members 29 and Elli, respectively, together with an inner plate 35 spaced inwardly from portion 33 of plate 28 toward the separation chamber. The portion of plate 28 and inner plate 35 are so arranged in relationship to one another as to form an inlet passage 3'5 which tapers in a direction toward he separation chamber. Inner plate 35 has a curved upper portion 3'? which extends into the separation chamber. as shown, substantially 90, said upper portion Sl' of the inner plate being curved so as to provide, with plate a gradual taper in the upper part of passage The width of passage 3? is equal to the distance between end members 29 and 38 of separator A vertically extending, funnel-shaped water outlet conduit 38 communicates with separation chamber 3! at the bottom thereof, said water outlet conduit being formed at opposite ends thereof by extensions 39 and or" end members 29 and 39, respectively, and by a side member ll adjacent tangential inlet 32. Water outlet 38 also has a curved side plate 52 spaced from side member il, which curved side plate extends into separation chamber 8i a distance short of the inner edge of the curved upper portion 31' of inner plate 35 and in spaced relationship with peripheral plate 23 adjacent the bottom of the chamber, thereby providing an outlet es. The distance between the inner edge of the curved upper portion 3i" and the outlet as shown is less than 180 while the distance between curved side plate 42 and plate it at opening 43 is approximately equal to the thickness at said opening of the layer of separated water flowing along peripheral plate when the vapor generator is operating under full load conditions, as will hereinafter be fully described, so that substantially all the separated water will flow through outlet 43.

of water outlet conduit 38 by a clamp 46. Tangential steam and water inlet 32 is flanged adjacent the inlet end thereof at ll so that it may be attached to sleeve 25 by bolt as (see Fig. 1). A concave outlet guide plate se which extends longitudinally between end walls 29 and 30 is secured to curved side member 32 of the water outlet conduit at a point below outlet 43, said baffle having connected to its lower end a curved extension 50, which extension is bolted to the guide plate 49 by a bolt 5|.

Each of the steam and water separators 23 has circular steam outlet ports 52 in end members 29 and 30, which steam outlets are disposed substantially centrally of the separation chamber on the same longitudinally extending axis. Outlet ports 52 each are surrounded by an inwardly projecting lip 52' which prevents any drainage of water along end members 29 and 39 from passing outwardly through said ports.

As shown in Fig. 1, plate It is coextensive with substantially the lower half of drum It and terminates at a point substantially level with the normal water level WL in the drum. The various containers 26 are mounted on sleeves with the longitudinal axis of the separation chamber 3| extending in a horizontal plane. Separators 26 are thereby positioned in the upper portion or steam space of drum it so that steam is discharged from the separators through steam outlets 52 into said steam space, and the separated water from the separators is discharged from the separators over guide plate it and extension 5a which extension is so adjusted on the guide plate that water flowing downwardly on the said guide plate and the extension, as hereinafter fully set forth, is discharged into the water space of the drum at the water level WL. Any separated water not so discharged from the separators will pass downwardly into the water in the drum below WL through extension on the water outlet conduit.

Also disposed within the drum above the separators are a plurality of steam driers 53 extending transversely of the drum and in spaced relationship from the inner periphery of the drum and longitudinally a distance beyond the separators, said driers being supported by lugs 54 and bolts 55 secured to angle irons 55, welded or otherwise secured to the periphery of the drum. Dryer units 53 are V-shaped in cross section, each leg of which has a plurality of W- shaped plates 53 inserted therein in nested but spaced relationship with the apical edges of one plate within the area defined by the next adja cent plate, the drier as shown being of the chevron type as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,472,101 granted to Martin Frisch on June 7, 1949. Entrained water particles carried over with the steam from the separator are separated therefrom as the steam and water mixture flows in the space between the nested plates, the separated water falling from said plates back into the water space of the drum. Above units 53 ,is-disposed a substantially horizontal partition 5'! extending laterally of the drum to angle irons 55 and longitudinally a distance equal to the length of trays 53, said partition being supported by rods 58 secured to the inner periphery of the drum by welding or like means and closed at its ends by arcuate plates 57 forming a steam chamber 51" having a plurality of small conduits 59 therein so as to form an outlet passage st for dried steam to pass out the drum by means or" steam outlet pipe 5|.

In operation, feed water is idelivered to drum. it at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the drum by feed Water pipes l3 and i l (l' ig. l.) which direct said water substantially horia tally, through apertures in the pipes, toward id water flows downwardly from the drum through downcomers l2 (Fig. 2) into steam-generating tubes 1 I, in which a mixture of steam and water is generated, said mixture flowing from steamgenerating tubes into steam inlet passage 2! wherein it passes upwardly. The upwardly flowing mixture of steam and water enters inlet sleeves 25 at opposite sides of the drum whence it passes into inlet passages 3? of the separators 26, which are, as shown, spaced from one another in rows etxending along opposite sides of the drum iii.

The mixture of steam and water is delivered tangentially of separation chamber 3! of each oi" the separators 26 through tapered rectangularshaped inlet passage 31, at a high velocity. A curved path of flow around a horizontally ex tending axis is imparted to the mixture by that portion of inlet passage 37: bounded by upper portion 3'! of the inner plate 3'5 and peripheral plate 23. The mixture entering separation chamber 35 will follow the curvature of peripheral plate 23 in a thin sheet, Because of the difference in densities of the steam and water in said mixture, separation occurs through the action of centrifugal force and a relatively thin layer of water is formed which travels along the inner periphery of plate 28 toward outlet 43. As the mixture turns on a horizontal axis in separation chamber 3! for a distance less than a complete revolution in said chamber, steam flows therefrom inwardly toward the center of the separation chamber and thence passes outwardly therefrom in a longttudinal direction through steam outlets 52 into the space in the steam drums between adjacent steam and water separators 26. Since the layer of Water on the inner periphery of peripheral plate 28 is thin, separation of steam therefrom is very rapid. The separated water passes through outlet 43 and engages concave outlet guide plate is, which causes the separated water to flow in a circular direction opposite that in which. it flows in separation chamber 3|. Separated water passes from guide plate Q9 onto extension 53, from which it is passed onto thesuriace of the water in a direction toward the center of the drum at WL. Should the thicxness of the stream of separated water flowing into outlet 43 be greater than the distance between peripheral plate 23 and curved side plate 42 of water outlet 23, a portion of said separated water will flow onto perforated baflie M, thence through the perfcrations therein into water outlet conduit 38. The separated water flows through extension '35 into the lower portion of drum Ill.

Separated steam which leaves separators 26 through outlet ports 52 passes upwardly into the upper portion of drum it, thereafter flowing through steam dryer units 53, wherein any reream ng moisture in the steam is removed. From trays 53 the dried steam flows outwardly of drum it through outlet pipe 6 I.

In accordance with the invention, it will be perceived that the component parts of the vaporliquid mixture are completely separated readily and efficiently and without necessity for utilization of cumbersome arrangements. The operation is such that dried vapor is obtained while vapor-free liquid is delivered to the vaporizing tubes of the generator. Also, a steam and water separator is provided which will function with a higher water'level in the vapor and liquid drum of avapor generator. h

It will be understood that changes maybe made in the form, location and arrangement of 6.2 the several parts of the apparatus illustrated, without departing from the principles or" the invention. The invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and-liquid separating means in the vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means comprising a casing forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber hav ing a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposed from said inlet circumferentially of the casing a sufficient distance to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the separating chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor space of the drum, and a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the separating chamber at the liquid outlet, said guide member being curved reversely of the curve of said chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance that liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface or the guide member, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is discharged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

2. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and liquid separating means in the vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means comprising a casing forming a generally cyllndrically-shaped separating chamber positionfid in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinalaxis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamher having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposed from said inlet circumferentially of the casing a sufficient distance to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the separating chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor space of the drum, and a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the separating chamber at the liquid outlet, said guide member being curved reversely of the curve of said chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance as to provide said periphery of the chamber with an outlet opening of such dimension at said outlet openin so that separated liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface of the guide member, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is dis charged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

3. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and liquid separating means in the vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means comprising a, casin forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, a substantially vertically extending tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating cham-- ber tangentially and at one side thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will be directed upwardly and inwardly of the separatin chamber to impinge on the inner peripheral surface of said chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposed from said point of impingement of the mixture on said periphery a distance less than 360 but sufficient to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the chamber, the separatll'lg chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor 8 space of th drum, and a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the chamber at the liquidoutlet, said guide member being curved reversely of the curve of the separating chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance that liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface of the guide member, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is discharged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

4. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providin an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and liquid separating means in the vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means comprising a casing forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, a substantially vertically extending tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially and at one side thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will be directed upwardly and inwardly of the separating chamber to impinge on the inner peripheral surface of said chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said inlet-forming means decreasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of now of said mixture and having an outlet portion extending into and curved in the same direction as said chamber, the separating chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposed from said point of impingement of the mixture in said periphery a distance less than 360 but sufficient to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor space of the drum, and a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the chamber at the liquid outlet, said guide member being curved reversely of the curve of the separating chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance that liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface of the guide member, the opposite lon i tudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is discharged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

5. In a vapor and liquid drum of a Vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of' the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and liquid separating means in the vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means comprising a casing forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in atzleast one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, a substantially vertically extending tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially and at one side thereof, said inlet-forming means decreasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of flow of'said mixture and having an outlet portion extending into and curved in the same direction as saidchamher, the chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof and spaced from said vertically. extending inlet-forming means circumferentially of the casing a suflicient distance to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the separating chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and, the vapor outlet opening coinmunicates with the vapor space of the drum, a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the chamber at said liquid outlet, the guide member being curved reversely of the curvature of the separatin chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge in Spaced relationship with said inlet-forming means and spaced inwardly toward the center of the chamber such distance as to provide with the inner periphery of the chamber an outlet opening of suchdimension at said outlet opening so that separated liquid flowing along the inner periphery will pass outwardly of the chamher through the liquid outlet, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is, discharged into the liquid space or the drum at said liquid level, and surplus water outlet means in communication with said chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom in the space between said liquid outlet and said inlet-forming means.

6. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper'portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquidand vapor spaces of thedrum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows. to said vapor space, said inlet compartment extending longitudinally of the drum and having vaporand liquid mixture outlets at opposite sides of the;

being spaced from one another axially of the I drum, each se arating means comprising a cas- .10 ing forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, a substantially vertically extending tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially and at one side thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will be directed upwardly and inwardly of the separating chamber to impinge on the inner peripheral surface of said chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposed from said point of impingement of the mixture on said periphery a distance lessthan 360 but suflicient to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor space of the drum, and a curved guide member extendin longitudinally of the separating chamber at the liquid outlet, said guide member being curved reversely of the curve of the separating chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance that liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface of the guide member, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is discharged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

'7. Vapor and liquid separating means for separating vapor and liquid from a mixture thereof, said separating means comprising a casing forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof, substantially vertically upwardly extending tangential inlet-forming means in communication with a source of said mixture and with the separating chamber tangentially and at one side thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will be directed upwardly and inwardly of the separating chamber to impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said inlet-forming means decreasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of flow of said mixture and having an outletportion extending into the chamber at the upper part thereof and curved in the same direction as said chamber, the separating chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the lower portion of the periphery thereof and spaced circumferentially from said point of communication of the inlet-forming means with said separating chamber, the space in the chamber between said point of communication of the inlet forming means and said liquid outlet being open to communicate with the central portion of the chamber, and a guide member extending longitudinally of the chamber and downwardly at the downwardly of the chamber and away from said outlet, the guide member being spaced inwardly toward the center of said chamber such distance that separated liquid flowing along the inner periphery of the separating chamber will pass outwardly of the chamber through the liquid outlet.

8. Vapor and liquid separating means for separatin vapor and liquid from a mixtur thereof, said separating means comprising a casing forming a generally cylindrically-shaped separating chamber positioned with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof, substantially vertically upwardly extending tangential inlet-forming means at one side of the separating chamber and in communication with a source of said mixture and with the separating chamber tangentially thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will be directed upwardly and inwardly of the separating chamber and will impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said inlet forming means decreasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of flow of said mixture and having an outlet portion extending into the chamber at the upper part thereof and curved in the same direction as said chamber, said outlet portion extending into the chamber a distance sufficient to impart a curved movement to the mixture introduced into the chamber, said chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the lower portion of the periphery thereof and spaced circumferentially from said outlet portion of the inlet-forming means and from said vertically extending inlet forming means, a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the chamber at said liquid outlet, the guide member being curved reversely of the curvature of the separating chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge in spaced relationship with said inlet forming means and spaced inwardly toward the center of the chamber such distance as to provide with the inner periphery of the chamber an outlet opening of such dimension at said outlet opening so that separated liquid flowing along the inner periphery will pass outwardly of the chamber through the liquid outlet, and surplus water outlet means in communication with said chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom in the space between said liquid outlet and said inlet-forming means.

9. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and liquid separating means in th vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means com prising a casing forming a generally cylindricallyshaped separating chamber positioned in the vapor space of the drum with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, tangential inletforming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said inlet-forming means decreasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of flow of said mixture, the separating chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposed from said inlet circumferentially of the casing a sufficient distance to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the separating chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor space of the drum, and a curved guide member extending longitudinally of the separating chamber at the liquid outlet, said guide member being curved reversely of the curve of said chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with one longitudinal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance that liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface of the guide member, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is discharged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

10. In a vapor and liquid drum of a vapor generator having a liquid space in the lower portion of the drum with a predetermined liquid level therein and a vapor space in the upper portion of the drum above said liquid level, partition means providing an inlet compartment separate from said liquid and vapor spaces of the drum and into which a mixture of vapor and liquid from the vapor generator is discharged and through which said mixture flows to said vapor space, vapor and liquid separating means in the vapor space of the drum and located in the path of flow of said mixture of vapor and liquid from the compartment to said vapor space, said separating means comprising a casing forming a separating chamber in the shape of an involute curve in transverse cross-section, said chamber being positioned with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof in communication with said vapor space, tangential inlet-forming means in communication with said inlet compartment and with the separating chamber tangentially thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the periphery thereof, said liquid outlet being disposedfrom said inlet circumferentially of the casing a sumcient dis tance to permit vapor and liquid to be separated from a mixture thereof by centrifugal force in its curved path of flow in the separating chamber, the separating chamber being so located in the drum that the outlet is above said water level and the vapor outlet opening communicates with the vapor space of the drum, anda curved guide member extending longitudinally of the separating chamber at the liquid outlet, said guide memher being curved reversely of the curve of said chamber and projecting downwardly therefrom with; one eee ted eal'lee e ih ec s a wardly of said periphery toward the center of the chamber such distance that liquid flowing from the chamber through the liquid outlet passes onto the reversely curved surface of the guide member, the opposite longitudinal edge of the guide member being so located that liquid therefrom is discharged into the liquid space of the drum at said liquid level.

11. Vapor and liquid separating means for separating vapor and liquid from a mixture thereof, said separating means comprising a casing forming a separating chamber in the shape of an involute curve in transverse cross-section, said chamber being positioned with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a substantially horizontal plane, the chamber having a vapor outlet opening in at least one end thereof, substantially vertically upwardly extending tangential inlet-forming means in communication with a source of said mixture and with the separating chamber tangentially and at one side thereof and so that a mixture of liquid and vapor from said inlet will be directed upwardly and inwardly of the separating chamber to impinge on the inner peripheral surface of the chamber and follow the curvature thereof, said inlet-forming means decreasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of flow of said mixture and having an outlet portion extending into the chamber at the upper part thereof and curved in the same direction as said chamber, the separating chamber having a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in the lower portion of the periphery thereof and spaced circumferentially from said point of communication of the inlet-forming means with said separating chamber, the space in the chamber between said point of communication of the inletforming means and said liquid outlet being open to communicate with the central portion of the chamber, and a guide member extending longitudinally of the chamber and downwardly at the liquid outlet, said guide member being spaced inwardly of said inner periphery toward the center of the chamber and projecting outwardly and downwardly of the chamber and away from said outlet, the guide member being spaced inwardly toward the center of said chamber such distance that separated liquid flowing along the inner periphery of the separating chamber will pass outwardly of the chamber through the liquid outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 390,100 Smith Sept. 25, 1888 1,305,413 Schutz June 3, 1919 1,620,241 Stebbins Mar. 8, 1927 1,822,442 Kruse Sept. 8, 1931 1,823,470 Rohlin Sept. 15, 1931 1,838,117 simms et al Dec. 29, 1931 2,395,855 Fletcher Mar. 5, 1946 w FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 201,235 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1939 

